To be demonised can mean 3 things:
- To be possessed or indwelt by demons
- To be oppressed or afflicted by demons
- To be influenced by demons
Can a Christian be possessed or indwelt by demons?
No! See what the Bible says about Christians:
Christians are one spirit with Jesus Christ, meaning we are united to God in our spirit man.
1 Cor. 6:17 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
Christians are already possessed by the Holy Spirit of God, and our spirit and body belong to God.
1Cor. 6:19-20 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body [g]and in your spirit, which is God’s.
It is unbelievers (also called children of disobedience) that are possessed by demons. Therefore these spirits can work through them. Christians have been liberated from this plague;
Eph2:1-3 1And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Can Christians be oppressed or afflicted by demons?
Yes! This can happen directly or indirectly. Christians can be afflicted indirectly by other unbelievers, for instance, demons influence people to persecute Christians. Demons can work through political leaders to oppress the citizens of a nation (christians inclusive). Demons can afflict believers directly, for instance, through sickness and disease. This is spiritually illegal, but demons will always come to try their luck with Christians. This is why the Bible doesn’t just teach us about our authority as believers but also encourages us to enforce our authority over demons.
The Bible encourages us to be sober and vigilant;
1Pet. 5:8-9 8 Be ]sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
The Bible encourages us to resist the devil and he will flee;
James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
The Bible encourages us to make no room for the devil;
Ephesians 4:26-27 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give [g]place to the devil
Can Christians be influenced by demons?
Yes! Especially by triggering wrong emotions and thoughts through demonic contents communicated to our senses. Demons can influence a believer to be fearful, angry, lustful, or selfish. They can influence Christians to be given to the works of the flesh. This is why we must be careful not to give room to the devil, even through what we expose our eyes and ears to.
Ephesians 4:26-27 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil
Now notice that the Bible never encourages us to be afraid of the devil. The devil uses fear and ignorance to afflict Christians. But we must know that Jesus has rendered him powerless already.
Hebrews 2:14-15 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
So you must know that demonic operations are real! But more real is the victory that we have in Christ Jesus! Hallelujah! Let me end on this note. It is a prayer from the Apostle Paul for the Ephesians in Eph. chapter 1.
Ephesians 1:17-22 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Did you notice Paul did not pray that God gives you victory over the devil but that He fills you with knowledge of the victory that he has given you in Christ! What you need today is spiritual knowledge. You need to know who you are in Christ Jesus! YOU ARE NOW SITTED WITH CHRIST IN HEAVENLY PLACES FAR ABOVE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWER.
I pray for you that this moment marks the end of all forms of demonic oppression that you are facing, in Jesus name! I pray for you that this moment marks the end of fear and suicidal thoughts, in Jesus name. Every limitation and frustration that you have been experiencing as a result of demonic oppression ends right now!
May I invite you, if you are not yet saved and you are on this platform, to be a partaker of this awesome blessing. You cannot partake of this victory that was secured by the redemptive works of Jesus if you are not saved, and you can only be saved if you acknowledge and repent of your sins and accept Jesus into your heart as your Lord and personal savior. If you want to receive the life of Christ and be part of the entitled beneficiaries of the unchallengeable power that we have in Christ Jesus say these prayers with me.
Lord Jesus, I believe that you died for my sins, and was buried went to hell, conquered sin, death, and the devil for me, and rose up on the third day for my justification. I receive you into my heart acknowledging that my sins have been washed away without any prior account of sin now standing against me. Thank you Jesus amen.
IF YOU PRAYED THAT PRAYER, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE NOW UNTOUCHABLE FOR THE DEVIL BECAUSE YOU ARE NOW A CHILD OF GOD. Please reach us through the email victor.ojo@charisfolks.org so we can follow up on you.
Send in your own questions using the link below, they will be anonymously sent! So you are free to ask any questions that bother your heart.
